By the WHO growth reference, boys who have just turned 17 have a median height of 175.2 cm (5′9″). Most children (94%) are between 160.8 cm (5′3″) and 189.5 cm (6′3″).
175.2 cm (5′9″)
median height (P50)
160.8–189.5 cm
P3–P97 range
| Age | P3 | P15 | P50 | P85 | P97 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 years | 160.8 | 167.2 | 175.2 | 183.1 | 189.5 |
| 17 years 3 months | 161.2 | 167.6 | 175.5 | 183.4 | 189.8 |
| 17 years 6 months | 161.5 | 167.9 | 175.8 | 183.6 | 190 |
| 17 years 9 months | 161.8 | 168.2 | 176 | 183.8 | 190.1 |
P50 is the median: half of children the same age are shorter and half taller. P3 to P97 is the range WHO treats as normal.
| Height | Children shorter |
|---|---|
| 155 cm (5′1″) | 0.4% |
| 160 cm (5′3″) | 2% |
| 165 cm (5′5″) | 9% |
| 170 cm (5′7″) | 25% |
| 175 cm (5′9″) | 49% |
| 180 cm (5′11″) | 74% |
| 185 cm (6′1″) | 90% |
| 190 cm (6′3″) | 97% |
| 195 cm (6′5″) | 99.5% |
Values come straight from World Health Organization tables: the WHO Child Growth Standards (2006) for ages 0–5 and the WHO Growth Reference (2007) for ages 5–19. National references (CDC in the US, for example) can differ by a few centimetres. This is not a diagnostic tool: growth over time matters more than a single measurement, and questions about your child's growth belong with their doctor.